Method of horticultural spraying or dusting



4 Sheets-Sheet l vf H. MATTHEWS -w/vrofv a. #Armen/s BY #km ATTORNEY METHOD OF HORTICULTURAL SPRAYING OR DUSTING Aug. 24, 1954 Filed June 2.

AUSL 24', 1954 v. H. MATTHEWS 2,585,990

METHOD OF HORTICULTURAL. SPRAYINO OR DUSTING Filed June 2, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a Y 56 @a w 74;. l

EilE g 324 465 Y a rmvENToR ATTORNEY Aug. 24, 1954 v. H. MATTHEWS METHOD OF' HORTICULTURAL SPRAYING OR DUSTING 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 2.

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VINTO/V h'. MATTHEWS ATTORNEY METHOD` OF HORTICULTURAL SPRAYING OR DUSTING Filed June 2. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 si a INVENTOR w/vro/v H. ,un rrHEWs ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE@ .METHOD 'OF 4HORTICULTURAL SPRAYING R DUSTING Vinton H.Matthews, San Jose, Calif., assigner vto Food `Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application June 2, 1949, Serial No. 96,782

(Cl. 47--58) l Claims.`

sequentially turning the branches, limbs, and

Another object is vto provide amobi'le appara-` tus for directing a plurality of converging blasts of spraying-and/or dustingematerial `converging towardfa tree `iorreiecting a turbulence in the loli-ageof the `tree 'while progressively bending` the branches l and `turning the `leaves thereof first in cneidirection andA then in 'the opposite direetionm for .subjecting all surf-aces of such branches and leaves to an application of spraying .or l dusting material'.

Anotherlobjectlof the# present invention is to provide lan Vapparatus for idirecting a plurality of-*blastsoiair loaded with Afungicide or insecticide.` ll'aterally toward kftreesf planted in i rows as the apparatus-moves parallel to the row of trees;` Tand converging `such `blasts `so that 'they meet approximately at-orxbeyond the lineof the trunks of the ltreesof such row of trees lfor effecting sequential bending of the branches of each tree forth and back: 'to prevent shingling oriwoverlapping of *leaf upon l leafI and branch upon branchf 'during the application of sprayingfor `dusting 'material to the* foliage of the tree.

Another object-is to provide a mobil-'esprayingo apparatus for ldirecting spraying material from a pluralityof nozzles spaced from each other `and discharging the spraying `material in converging- `streams meeting at `a predetermined distance-from `thei apparatus tocreate a turbulence in theioliage `oi the tree as the appara-` tus passes `the same.

Another Objectis to provide adjustable nozzles fora mobile blower' apparatus for directing spraying `material `in converging paths from either onefor the other 'side of the apparatus.

These and other objects and advantages of` the present invention will become more apparent in connection with `the following description and `drawings 'in which:

Fig. l is a side View of the spraying apparatus -of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the 'apparatus shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross'section of Fig. 1 'taken along line 3--3 thereof.

Fig. `l is a fragmentary horizontal section of the apparatus taken along line 4 4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top View of the mobile spraying apparatus of Fig. 1.

Figs. 6 through l0 are diagrammatic views of the `spraying apparatus sequentially illustrating the effect ofthe blasts of spraying material on the vbranches of a tree asthe vehicle passes the tree.

Fig. l1 is a side View similar to FigI 2 illustrating a modied form of apparatus embodying the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a top View of the apparatus shown in Figlll.

The spraying apparatus of the present invention is generally `indicated by reference numeral I in the drawings and comprises a trailer or vehicle 2 having a frame 3 mounted on wheels 4 and having a tongue `li bywhich the trailer can be hitched to a tractor, not shown, and be drawn thereby between rows of trees in an orchard.

The frame 3 comprises parallel channels '6 and 1 joined by cross beams 8 and having pillow blocks 9 thereon for supporting a tank I0 between the wheels 4, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Mounted on the frame 3 in spaced relation to thefront and rear end walls II and I2 of the tank are front and rear blowers i3 and I4, respectively.` For purposes of illustration, the blowers I3 and I4 employed in the present disclosure are of a type similar to the one described and shown in `Patent No. 2,321,792, issued to A. St. John Bowie, June 15, 1943.

The blowers I3 and I4 are especially designed for applying spraying and/or dusting material to plants in a particular manner as contemplated by the invention herein. Accordingly, each blower comprises a housing I8 having an annular wall I"9 secured to annular flanges.` of vspaced side walls 2li and 2| and provided with a discharge conduit 22, Figs. 3 and 4. The spaced side walls 2t and 2| are each provided with a central spider casting 23 having a bearing 24.

mounted on a trunnion carriage 25 and the bearing on the side wall 2| on a trunnion carriage 2S. Each trunnion carriage 25 and 25 is supported on spaced brackets 2'! and 28, respectively, disposed adjacent the side walls of the housing I3 and secured by bolts 29 to the frame 3. The trunnion carriages 25 and 26 are provided with aligned bearings 35 and 3|, respectively, which rotatably support a shaft 32 having a propeller 33 secured thereto for rotation therewith.

The shafts '32 of the two blowers are in axial alignment with each other, see Fig. 2, and the tank I is provided with a tubular passage 35 from end to end` thereof in axial alignment with the blower shafts. The shafts 32 are connected to the respective ends of a jack shaft 36 extending through the passage 35 and having its ends joined to both front and rear shafts 32 preferably by couplings Si and 38 disposed within the spaces between the end walls of the tank and the blowers.

The shaft $2 of the front blower I3 extends forwardly of the housing thereof and is adapted to be connected to any suitable power take-off unit. AIn the present disclosure it is preferred that the shaft 32 be connected to a self-contained power unit in the form of an internal combustion engine 3e mounted in conventional manner on the frame 3 forwardly of the blower t3. The engine 39 is provided with a drive shaft 49 disposed parallel to and adjacent the forward extension of the shaft 32 of the front blower I3. Secured to the frame 3 adjacent the engine 39 is a liquid plump 4| having a shaft ft2 extending parallel to and adjacent the drive shaft it of the engine as well as the shaft 32 of the front blower I3. Secured to each of these shafts 32, d, and 42 is a gang pulley t5, 45, and 11, respectively, and trained around these pulleys are a plurality of belts le whereby the shafts I2 and 32 are driven from, the drive shaft 4|] when the engine 39 is in operation.

Secured to the discharge conduit 22 of the front blower IS is a discharge nozzle 59 and secured to the discharge conduit 22 of the rear lower Id is a discharge nozzle 5I. Each of the nozzles 5D and 5I comprises curved converging side walls 52 and 53 (Fig. 4) and diverging upper and lower end walls 5G and 55 (Fig.l 3) forming an elongated or rectangular orice 55. The nozzle 5i) of the front blower I3 is disposed angularly toward the rear of the vehicle while the nozzle 5I of the rear blower |13 is disposed angularly toward the front end thereof, i. e., each nozzle is preferably disposed at an angle of approximately 60 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle so that the blasts of air emanating from these nozzles will be directed in converging paths meeting with each other a substantial distance either laterally or vertically of the vehicle, as the case may be.

The apparatus is provided with a body 5B comprising a hood 5| disposed over the engine 39; an annular cover 62 for each of the blowers I3 and Ill and a central portion 3 for covering the tank I9 and the spaces between the ends of the tank and the respective blowers to provide ducts 613 for supplying air to the blowers.

The rearward end of the hood. 6i is supported on and secured to a frame e5 extending upwardly from the frame 3 and abutting against an annular frame S6, Fig. 3, secured by blocks 6l to the forward blower housing for rotation with the same concentrically of the shaft 32 thereof. The

annular cover S2 surrounding the forward blower I3 is secured to the frame $5 thereof for rotation therewith whereby the nozzle 5B may be directed to either one or the other side of the apparatus, there being a suitable handle e3 secured to the cover 52 for facilitating manipulation of the same and the blower housing in the manner explained.

The opposite side of the frame 5t of the front blower I3 abuts against a frame member St secured to the vehicle frame 3. This frame meinber 69 supports the forward end of the central portion 53 of the body 55], as is shown in Fig. 4l, while the rearrnost end of the central portion Gil is secured to a frame member l@ bolted to the vehicle frame 3 and abutting against the annular frame $6' of the rear blower Il. 'ille annular cover 62 of the rear blower it is secured to the frame E56 in the same manner as explained in connection with the forward blower I3 and is provided with a handle 6B for facilitating rotation of the blower Ill relative to the vehicle in the same manner as hereinbefore stated in connection with the front blower I 3.

Mounted within the orifice 56 of each nozzle 5@ and 5| and extending the length of the respective orifice is a liquid supply pipe i5 having a plurality of liquid discharge apertures it. rihe free ends of the liquid supply pipes 'i5 extend through the upper wall 5d and lower wall 55 of the respective nozzle, the upper end of each pipe being provided with pipe fitting 'i9 and the lower end of each pipe being provided with a fitting 89. Secured to the pipe fittings i9 and 8P associated with each nozzle are conduits @I and 82, respectively, which are preferably exible menibers having their opposite ends connected to a T iitting 83 in turn connected to a flexible hose 84.

rEhe flexible hose 8d associated with the front blower i3 is connected to a fitting 85 extending through the hood '5I and the flexible hose Se associated with the rear blower Id is connected to a tting 86 extending through the central portion 53 of the body. Within the body portion each of the fittings and 8b is connected to the upper ends of vertical portions of a feed pipe 8l, the main portion of which extends longitudinally of the frame 3 and is secured to the channel 6 thereof by straps 8S, as shown in Fig. 3.

The housing of the liquid pump 13|, Fig. 2, is provided with an inlet and an outlet opening, each of which is provided with a threaded fitting 89 and 99, respectively. The feed pipe 8l has its forward end threadedly connected to the fitting 9i] at the outlet opening of the liquid pump 4I, Threadedly secured to the fitting 89 at the inlet opening of the liquid pump is a pipe line 9| having its opposite end tlireadedly connected to a nipple 92 communicating with the tank It, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

When the engine 36 is in operation, as hereinbefore explained, the shafts 32 of the blowers I3 and I/l are driven in unison causing the propel- 1ers 33 thereof to rotate within their respective housings to discharge air therefrom through the nozzles 59 and 5I. Each of the blowers i3 and lf3 is supplied with air through the openings provided by the spider castings 23 in the side walls thereof, the body 59 being provided with suitable grills 95 through which air freely passes into the interior of the body Se toward the side walls of the blower. v, y

The blasts of air emanating from the nozzles 55 and 5I are directed angularly from the vehicle for coniiuence a substantial distance rlaterally "thereof; as .:hereinbefore explained, sand either spraying; .or dustingmmaterialazmay be` carriedbythe separatellblastsfor applicationilto ther trees... In .the .preferredrembodiment disclosed in Figs. 1 to1\0, inclusive; .liquid spraying material is :introduced into .the airstrearn emanating from the. .blowers,` which .liquid .spraying material is stored in the tank .l `rand .is supplied tothe pump 4| by waytof :the: pipeglinewl. The :spraying material is .discbargedwfromthe pump. .through ofthe present `invention is .bestillustrated in.

connection with Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive, in which it is assumed that .the spraying apparatus is drawn in the direction ofthe arrow S16-along a path which is spaced from the4 tree sucient .to cause the convergingblasts emanatingr from `the two` blower nozzles, to meet .at or-slightly :beyond the trunk of the' tree when the .Vehiclezis `directly opposite the same, seeF'ig. 8.

Figs. 6` to 10,` inclusive,` illustrate :five vsequential stepsduring .theprogressof the apparatus.

past the same tree,A thatris .to say, inFig. `6 the apparatus is shown .approachingthe tree, the

converging blasts fromthe .two .nozzles being di.

rected. toward the leaves of the right' side of the tree; in Fig. 7 thefvehicle has `progressed so4 that `the converging'. blasts aredirected into the.

branches on the right. iside. of the tree; .in Fig. 8 the .two blasts .meet at or :beyondrthe trunkwof the tree; in 9 the converging blasts strike the branches on the leftsidebfthe tree; `,and .in Fig. 10 the` apparatusis being drawnaway `from the tree, the converging blasts. strikingthe. leaves on theextremeleftside thereof.

For .explanatory purposes,` the` treeexemplified` in Figs. .6 through` 10. is providedwith four limbsonthat side thereotadjacent the path .of the, .The .first limbto be .struck spraying apparatus. by .spraying material, Fig. `6, isidentified by reiference numeral .100, .and reading .counterclockwise .about the trunk `oi .the tree, thesecond limb comprises twobranches V|0| and. |02, the third. limb two branches: lili` and |04, a.nd...the fourth4 limb .identied` by referencenumeral 05.. 1

As the spraying. apparatus .progresses relative to the tree, the blast from `the frontblower 50..

strikes the leaves .at the` extreme .end of the first limb. |00 .and gradually. turns the leaves and twigs thereof ina clockwise direction. Subsequently, the blast from therearnozzle 5| .is directed into the cluster of twigs -and leavesof thenrst limb. |00 turning them ina counterclockwisedirec-3 tion and applying spraying material 'to `the back. The .blast from.V

sidesof such. twigs and leaves. the front nozzle. 51Min` the meantime; strikes the leaves at the extreme.` end ofthe branch ll .of

the second limb, eventually bending. .the branch |0| clockwise and .thenstrikingthe leavesat the extreme end of the branch |02., as showninFig. 6.

l the forces-of` the blasts` andsaid branches. and` As the vehicle progresses from. .theposition shown. in Fig; 6 to that o'f.Fi`g..7, the blast` from therfrontzzblowers passes the extremexend;:ofl

the branclm 0.2,.. turning. thevsame clockwise while the; .blast beginsto strike.` the leaves :at the -end of 4the'branch. |03. During. such progress-of the front'nozzlef, the blast. from the rearanozzle4 5| Chas passed .thel extreme end of the `iirst'limb` H30 and. is directed between the latter and the second branch of the tree.` The branches |.0| andA |102,` asstated above, have been `bent clockwise by .the blast :fromvtheforward .blower and, therefore, theleaves at the` extreme endof the branch |t||l are disposed in. thepath of the blast ifrom'. the rear nozzle, asis shown' in Fig. 7.

i In-the-.advancement of the apparatus `from `the positionrxoi Fig.` 7 to that of Fig. 8, the blast `of*` the rear blowerrEI passes the end of the branch, |0.| `as .the blast` from .the forward blower .50 passes the end of the branch |03. Consequently..

the branch |02 is no longer. in the line of. force of the blast frornthelfront nozzle Bland, there-` fore,-wil1.return by` its ownresiliency toward its normal. position as theblast `from the rear nozzle 5| is directedbetween: thebranches |0| .and |02., At. .the same. time,.the.blast.from the forward.

blower nozzle lliis directed between the branches |03 `and. .l Mandyas illustrated in Fig. 8, the con. verging. blasts from the two blowers meet substantially `at the center, i. e.,cthe. trunk, 4of the.

tree. i

Proceeding nowirom the positionof the apparatus in Fig. 8 to the position shown inEig. 9, the .blast from the rear nozzle 5| .bends .the branch |02 .counterclockwise. whilef the .blast of .thefrontI nozzle ilsweeps outwardly .relative to the side .of l. thebranch .|04 turning. the. branch. |04 counter.-

clockwise, Fig.. 9.

Progression. of the. apparatus from the. posi.-

tonshown in Fig.. 9 to that illustrated .in Fig. l0 causes the blast. fromtherear nozzleV 5| to pass the. .extremeend` of the branch |82 releasing` the branch .|02 .for return. toits .natural position Aas theblaststrikes the side ofthe branch |83 to.

turnthe branch` |03 counterclockwise, as is shown in Fig. l0... -At the same. time, the blast from the forward nozzle 50 passes the end ofthe. branch |041 and is directed .between the branch. IM and the .limb |05 `to.sweep outwardly relative to the sidepf `the limb |05 turning `.the lattery counter-` clockwise as is shown in Fig. .10. ..-As..the vehicle movesirom the position shown in Fig. 1.0 away.` f1om..the tree, theforce of the. converging `blasts from the `two nozzles gradually 4lessens .so that the twigs andleaves at the. extreme end of the. branches 103,104 .of the third limb and at the. end ofthe limb |05 are. successively released .from` limbs therefore `sequentially .return to their nat ural position one after another.

In .connection with the foregoing descriptionof the effect of the converging blasts on thepar.- i

tioular` tree illustrated, it should be understood that the converging blasts causea turbulence in` thelne particles of spraying .or dusting material. thereby creating a :cloud ofi..spraying material. infand around the limbs of the` tree. The forceV of such converging blasts. .alsocausesa turbulence of-the twigs and leaves ofthe tree such.. that they will.wave and swirl aboutin the turbulent cloud of spraying .material.. Consequently, the ne particlesof .thespraying material are brought into contact with .andtdeposited upon-theleaves, twigs, branches, .and `limbsso that1 all surfaces of the .toliagereceive an .application of the: spraying material. Moreover, incidental to .the.appli- .l cation.. of thespraying materialto thefoliageon that side of the tree facing the spraying apparatus, a portion of the same cloud of spraying material is forced beyond the trunk of the tree causing an application of the fine particles thereof to the trunk side or inner portions of the branches, limbs, and leaves on the far side of the tree, namely, that side of the tree facing away from the spraying apparatus.

When the spraying apparatus reaches the end of a row of trees in an orchard, it is drawn around the last tree of the row for a return run past the opposite side of such row so that the converging blasts will be directed toward the opposite sides of the trees thereof, and the foregoing procedure is repeated. Consequently, the entire foliage of each tree will receive a thorough application of the spraying material and will be adequately protected against pestilence.

As hereinbefore explained, the housings of the blowers I3 and h3 are rotatable so that their nozzles may be directed to either one or the other side of the apparatus. This feature is especially adapted for young orchards in which the trees are small. In other words, when one row of such trees has been sprayed and the vehicle is returned on the opposite side of such row, the blowers can be rotated into a position so as to have one blower discharge to one side of the vehicle, and the other blower to discharge to the opposite side thus applying material to two adjacent tree rows.

The feature of rotatability of the blower housings is further advantageous in cases where the foliage of the tree has attained considerable height. In such cases, the nozzles can be tilted to any desired degree upwardly so that the converging blasts are directed at a proper angle, to adequately apply spraying material to the foliage f such trees, as hereinbefore explained.

Figs. 11 and l2 illustrate the invention modified by conversion into a duster or dust applicator. The conversion of the apparatus from a sprayer to a duster is accomplished by removing the storage tank Ill and substituting therefor dust supplying units I l0.

The removal of the tank Il will be best understood in connection with Figs. l to 4 wherein it will be noted that the central body portion 63 is provided with access panels at each of the air ducts 64. The panels I I I, when removed, permit access to the couplings 31 and 38 between the jack shaft 35 and the shafts 32 of the two blowers whereby the jack shaft can be uncoupled from the blower shafts. The pipe line 9| leading from the tank I5 is provided with a union I I2, Fig. 2, which union is disconnected as are the body bolts I I3, Fig. l, for the central body portion 63. Thereafter, the tank Ii! and central body portion are lifted from the frame 3 and the duster unit lowered in place.

The duster unit I I0 (Figs. 11 and l2) comprises a platform ||5 having parallel channels IIG, Ill spaced from each other by cross channels ||8 so as to rest upon the channels 5 and 1, respectively, of the frame 3. The channels I|5 and II'| are then secured to the respective channels *6 and 1 by bolts and nuts I I9.

Secured to the platform ||5, at diagonally opposite corners thereof, are front and rear pedestals |20 and |2|, the legs of each pedestal being suitably secured to the platform by bolts |22, Fig. ll. Each pedestal supports a hopper I 23 adapted to receive a quantity of nely divided dusting material, such as sulphur or like insecticide or fungicide, and has an opening, not shown,

in its lower wall for discharging the dust into a housing |24 secured thereto. Within each housing |24 is a screw feed, not shown, associated with a drive shaft |25 which is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus.

Secured to the spider casting 23 on the side wall 2| of the front blower is a plate |26 having an opening |23 in which is disposed the discharge end of an air duct |29 having its opposite end open to atmosphere and extending laterally and upwardly to one side of the apparatus. Communicating with this air duct |29, between the ends thereof, is a conduit |30 having its opposite end in communication with the discharge side of the screw feed housing |24 beneath the forward hopper. Secured to the spider casting 23 on the side wall 20 of the rear blower housing is a plate |3| having an opening, not shown, into which extends the discharge end of an air duct |33 having its opposite end open to atmosphere and extending upwardly and outwardly relative to the apparatus. The air duct |33 is provided with an opening between its ends communicating with a conduit |313 extending to and communicating with the housing |24 of the screw feed of the rear hopper |23.

The jack shaft 36 is withdrawn from the tubular passage 35 in the tank and a pair of pulleys |35 and |35 are secured at predetermined positions between the ends of the jack shaft. The jack shaft is again connected to the ends of the shafts 32 of both blowers by the couplings 37 and 38, see Figs. 11 and 12. `Secured to each of the drive shafts |25 of the two screw feeds is a drive pulley |31' and |38, respectively, in alignment, transversely of the apparatus, with the pulleys |35 and |35 secured to the jack shaft. The pulleys |35 and |3`| associated with the drive shaft |25 of the front pedestal |20 are drivingly connected by a belt |39 and the pulleys |36 and |38 associated with the rear pedestal |2| are drivingly connected by a belt |40.

The drive shafts 32 of the front and rear blowers are driven in the same manner as hereinbefore explained in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention to drive the propellers 33 thereof in unison. ,Since the shafts |25 of the two screw feeds are driven directly from the jack shaft 36, the rate of rotation of the screw feed drive shafts is dependent upon the speed of rotation of the blowers. Consequently, the volume of dust dispensed from the respective hoppers |23 into the air ducts |29 and |33 will be in proportion to the volume of the air drawn therethrough by the propellers. The dust thus discharged into the air ducts |29 and |33 is drawn in metered quantities into the respective blower housings and is entrained in a stream of air discharging from the housings through the conduits 22 and the discharge nozzles 55 and 5|.

The converging blasts of air and dust emanating from the nozzles 5|) and 5| meet a substantial distance laterally of the apparatus as hereinbefore explained in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention, and, therefore, the effect of the blasts upon a tree is the same as explained in connection with Figs. 6 to l0, inclusive, effecting an application of dust to all sides and surfaces of the foliage of the trees.

Having thus described the apparatus for and method of applying fungicide or insecticide to the foliage of a tree, I desire it to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific mode and practice of the method as disclosed or the precise details of construction illustrated herein, but that various modes of application and/or modifications, and variations in structure may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and I deem myself entitled to all such modes of application and structural modifications or variations as come within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of applying pesticide material to a tree comprising entraining finely divided particles of pesticide material in converging blasts and directing such blasts into the foliage of a tree to converge interiorly of the tree While moving them past the tree, said blasts being directed toward the tree from points spaced one ahead of the other in the direction of movement thereby displacing the foliage successively in different directions and creating a turbulence in the foliage of the tree so that the entire surfaces of such `foliage receive a deposit of the pesticide material.

2. The method of applying pesticide material to a tree comprising entraining fine particles of pesticide material in blasts directed in converging paths into the foliage of a tree, and moving such blasts in unison past the tree, said blasts being directed toward the tree from points spaced horizontally in a plane parallelingthe direction i of movement thereby displacing the foliage rst in one direction and then in the opposite direction and simultaneously causing a turbulence of the ine particles of pesticide material and a turbulence of the branches and leaves of the tree whereby all surfaces of such branches and leaves are exposed to the turbulently moving particles of pesticide material such that the latter are deposited on all surfaces of the branches and leaves.

3. 'I'he method of applying pesticide material to a row of trees comprising entraining the pesticide material in converging blasts of air directed toward the row from points spaced longitudinally of the row at one side thereof meeting within the foliage of the tree, and moving such converging blasts of air past each tree causing the branches and leaves thereof to be turned iirst in one direction and then in an opposite direction thereby subjecting all surfaces of such limbs and leaves to an application of such pesticide material.

4. The method of applying pesticide material to a tree comprising entraining pesticide material in substantially horizontally directed vertically spreading blasts of air directed from points relatively widely spaced in a horizontal direction at one side of the tree along converging paths meeting within the foliage of the tree, moving such blasts of air in unison past the tree causing the branches thereof to be turned rst in one direction by the leading blast of air and then in an opposite direction by the trailingT blaast of air to thereby wave the branches and leaves of the tree to and fro in the pesticide material.

5. The method of applying pesticide material to a tree comprising entraining pesticide material in relatively thin fan shaped blasts Widely spreading in vertical planes converging from sources widely spaced in a horizontal direction in a plane spaced from 'one side ofthe tree, moving such converging fan shaped blasts of air past the tree causing the branches thereof to turn first in one direction and then in the opposite direction and simultaneously creating a turbulent fluttering of the twigs and leaves of such branches so that all surfaces of the branches, twigs, and leaves of the tree will receive an application of pesticide material entrained in such blasts of air.

References cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 668,950 Brakeley l'eb.A 26, 1901 1,783,430 Johnson Dec. 2, 1930 1,864,198 Johnson June 21, 1932 1,980,427 Parker Nov. 13, 1934 1,993,635 Towt Mar. 5, 1935 1,998,856 Towt Apr. 23, 1935 2,220,082 Daugherty Nov. 5, 1940 2,297,110 Parker Sept. 29, 1942 2,327,204 McLemore Aug. 17, 1943 2,408,328 McLemore Sept. 24, 1946 2,608,441 Daugherty Aug. 26, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 494,949 France June 13, 1919 558,502 Great Britain May 28. 1947 

